How is low back pain diagnosed?

Diagnosis is usually the first line on a quote for back pain, so it is the first line to read. Imaging is one piece of it, and it is worth reading closely.

Scans and pain under six weeks

Before you agree to a scan, read what Wikipedia says about imaging. In most cases, imaging tools such as CT scans are not useful or recommended for low back pain that lasts less than 6 weeks (with no red flags) and carry their own risks.

How to read that

That advice has conditions attached. It covers pain lasting under six weeks and pain without red flags. It does not say a scan is never right for anyone. Ask the clinician which side of those conditions you fall on.

If you want a firm number for any test, ask the office to price each one separately. If a scan is on the quote, ask what it is meant to find and whether the result would change the plan.

What to do next

Ask for the planned tests in writing, each with its reason. Compare them with the plain-language descriptions on the OrthoInfo low back pain page and the MedlinePlus pain page.

Asking about each line item

A fair quote names each test and the reason for it. If a line item has no stated reason, that is the line to ask about before you pay for it, in Garfield or elsewhere.